Legislative Study Committee Created on BCPL, Common School Fund

A Legislative Council Study Committee has been created on the Investment and Use of the School Trust Funds. 

Study Committees meet during the legislative interim (June-December) to examine pressing public policy issues and recommend solutions. They include members of the Legislature and members of the public. The Committee will be chaired by Representative Terry Katsma (R – Oostburg) and Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and include Senator Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Representative Don Vruwink (D-Milton). Public members include Kim Bannigan, a past WEMTA president,  and several local government officials. 

The Study Committee is directed to review the statutes governing the investment of the trust funds administered by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL), including the loan programs administered by BCPL. The committee shall assess whether current statutes adequately ensure the effective investment and appropriate use of the proceeds of the funds, and recommend legislation for necessary changes.

WEMTA will keep you updated on the work of this Committee. 

Democrats Flip Senate Seat; Republicans Keep Assembly Seat

Special elections were held Tuesday in Assembly District 42 and Senate District 1 to fill seats vacated by Representative Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) who both left the Legislature to take jobs with Governor Walker’s administration.

Former Door County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director  Caleb Frostman (D-Sturgeon Bay) defeated State Representative Andre Jacque (R-De Pere),  51%-49%, in Senate District 1, which covers Door and Kewaunee counties and portions of Manitowoc, Calumet and Brown counties. Republicans had held this seat for 41 years. This is the second Senate seat Democrats have picked up this year. They now only need to pick up two seats in the November General Election to gain the majority. 

Karate studio owner Jon Plumer (R-Lodi) defeated UW-Madison academic advisor Ann Groves Lloyd (D-Lodi), 53%-45%, in Assembly District 42, which covers portions of Columbia, Dane, Marquette, Green Lake, Dodge and Fond du Lac counties.

As a result of this election, Republicans now have a 18-15 majority in the Senate and a 64-35 majority in the Assembly.

Both seats are up for re-election in November, so candidates will need to continue campaigning. In Senate District 1, Representative Andre Jacque faces a Republican primary against Bill Nauta (R-Washington Island), the winner of which will face Frostman in the general election. In Assembly District 42, Plummer and Groves Lloyd will be matched up again in the general election.

BCPL Candidates on the Ballot

Candidates were required to submit enough nomination signatures to make it on the ballot by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 1. 

Republican and Democratic Primaries are required for both the Secretary of State and State Treasurer Races and will be held on August 14. The general election will take place on November 6. 

The following candidates submitted enough signatures to make it on the ballot for BCPL races. 

Attorney General Candidates

Brad Schimel (Incumbent, R-Waukesha)

Attorney General Schimel currently serves as the chair of the BCPL. He has been a

BCPL Commissioner since first being elected in 2014.

Campaign Website: https://bradschimel.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bradschimel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradschimel

Josh Kaul (D-Madison)

Kaul is a Madison-based attorney. He is the son of former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager.

Campaign Website: https://www.joshkaul.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshKaulWI/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoshKaulWI

State Treasurer Candidates 

Republicans

Travis Hartwig (R-Oak Creek)

Hartwig is a Mutual Fund Administrator at U.S. Bank Fund Services in Milwaukee. Hartwig says he is "committed to reforming and recreating the Treasurer’s office." 

Campaign Website: http://travishartwig.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hartwigforwisconsin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hartwigforwi


Jill Millies (R-Big Bend) 

Millies' LinkedIn profile describes her as a florist. In a press release, she said that she would work with lawmakers to "to make the office functional again" and that she supports selling 77,000 acres of land currently managed by BCPL.  

Campaign Website: https://www.jillmillies4treasurer.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillMillies4Treasurer/?ref=settings 

Democrats 

Sarah Godlewski (D-Madison)

Godlewski is the co-founder of MaSa Partners, a social impact investment firm. She said in a recent Q&A with the Capital Times that she is interested in "economic empowerment" initiatives and supports restoring the offices original duties. 

Campaign Website: https://www.sarahforwisconsin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahforWI

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahforWI 


Cynthia Kaump (D-Madison)

Kaump previously worked as a spokesperson for former State Treasurer Kurt Schuller. She says on her campaign website that she wants to "restore, modernize and move forward" the office of state treasurer. 

Campaign Website: https://www.kaumpforstatetreasurer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaKaumpforStateTreasurer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CynthiaKaump


Dawn Marie Sass (D-Belleville)

Sass previously served as state treasurer from 2007 to 2011. Sass was defeated by Kurt Schuller in the 2010 election. She says on her campaign website that one of her priorities is to create a State Bank of Wisconsin to "offer low cost loans and services to citizens."  

Campaign Website: http://sassforstatetreasurer.org 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/115420275145473/about/ 

Twitter: N/A

Constitution Party 

Andrew Zuelke (C-Ripon)

Zuelke ran for state treasurer and lost in 2014. He campaigned on restoring the offices duties and giving the office more oversight over things like the state's Rainy Day fund. He does not appear to have an official campaign website or social media at this time. 

Secretary of State 

Republicans 

Jay Schroeder (R-Neenah)

In a press release announcing his campaign, Mr. Schroeder said he hopes to abolish the Office of Secretary of State. He is a licensed mortgage loan officer. 

Campaign Website: http://schroederforwi.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jay-Schroeder-167069927265521/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Schroederforwi

Spencer Zimmerman (R-Janesville) 

Zimmerman most recently ran and lost in the Republican primary for the Special Election in Assembly District 42. He says he wants "to restore function to the office of Secretary of State by making it Wisconsin’s Chief Protocol Officer for international relations and to serve as a goodwill ambassador promoting commerce, educational studies and cultural exchanges between Wisconsin, other States, and the World." 

Campaign Website: https://vote4zimmerman.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vote4zimmerman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VoteZimmermanWI

Democrats 

Doug La Follette (Incumbent, D-Madison)

Doug La Follette has been Secretary of State, and a BCPL Commissioner, since 1983. If re-elected, this will be his 11th term. 

Campaign Website: http://douglafollette.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sosdoug

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DougLaFollette 


Arvina Martin (D-Madison)

Martin is currently a Madison alder. She says that she wants to protect the right to vote and "to restore and expand the duties of the office of Secretary of State."

Campaign Website: https://www.arvinaforwi.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arvinaforwi/ 

Twitter: N/A